Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Holland, MI and Kingston

For one person, living is cheaper in Kingston: $1,668 a month against $2,445 in Holland, MI, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Holland, MI outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Holland, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,445
/mo nomad
Kingston
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$1,668
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Holland, MI and in Kingston

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Holland, MI and in Kingston actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,445 in Holland, MI versus $1,668 in Kingston.

  • Holland, MI $2,445
  • Kingston $1,668

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,417 in Holland, MI versus $2,812 in Kingston.

  • Holland, MI $3,417
  • Kingston $2,812

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,388 in Holland, MI versus $3,955 in Kingston.

  • Holland, MI $4,388
  • Kingston $3,955

Living in Holland, MI is roughly 47% more expensive than in Kingston, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Holland, MI 81% above, Kingston 24% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.41 $15.41
$13.29 JMD 2,099
15.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 $61.2
$73.8 JMD 11.7K
-17.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$8.14 JMD 1,285
47.79%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$5.45 JMD 861
-5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.14 JMD 180
79.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.72 JMD 115
197.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$2.16 JMD 341
179.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.11 JMD 491
154.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$4.19 JMD 661
-78.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 $2.09
$3.78 JMD 598
-44.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.61 JMD 254
15.53%
Eggs
$3.13 $3.13
$3.48 JMD 550
-10.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.44 $17.44
$11.40 JMD 1,801
52.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.29 $6.29
$6.35 JMD 1,003
-0.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.14 $14.14
$10.40 JMD 1,644
35.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$6.05 JMD 957
-40.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$3.82 JMD 604
-71.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$7.25 JMD 1,146
-57.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.06 JMD 484
46.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$3.21 JMD 506
-24.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.62 JMD 415
12.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$3.13 JMD 494
-34.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.44 JMD 228
36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.95 $8.95
$9.48 JMD 1,498
-5.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$11.36 JMD 1,795
29.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.86 JMD 453
-24.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$3.88 JMD 613
-64.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.75 JMD 119
56.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.34 $34.34
$37.27 JMD 5,888
-7.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.22 JMD 192
150.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$3.20 JMD 505
-52.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.74 $26.74
$6.31 JMD 996
323.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.39 JMD 219
-35.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$44.3K JMD 7.0M
-33.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$32.8K JMD 5.2M
-27.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$167 JMD 26.4K
9.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.44 $37.44
$29.86 JMD 4,717
25.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$53.4 JMD 8,443
34.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.42 $30.42
$61.9 JMD 9,787
-50.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.61 JMD 2,782
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.56 $10.56
$13.15 JMD 2,078
-19.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$821 $821
$359 JMD 56.7K
128.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K $19.8K
$8,382 JMD 1.3M
136.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.05 $46.05
$23.75 JMD 3,752
93.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.79 $31.79
$31.13 JMD 4,918
2.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 $75.8
$76.9 JMD 12.2K
-1.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9 $82.9
$100 JMD 15.9K
-17.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 $1,332
$975 JMD 154.0K
36.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$563 JMD 89.0K
137.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 $2,077
$2,142 JMD 338.5K
-3.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 $2,009
$1,421 JMD 224.6K
41.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,315 $2,315
$2,876 JMD 454.4K
-19.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,403 $2,403
$2,044 JMD 323.0K
17.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holland, MI
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,822 $3,822
$735 JMD 116.1K
420.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.95
9.45
-37.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Holland, MI: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kingston: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Holland, MI
$1.3K
Kingston
$563 57.9% $775
Groceries & Markets
Holland, MI
$323
Kingston
$384 19% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holland, MI
$293
Kingston
$250 14.6% $43
Eating Out
Holland, MI
$284
Kingston
$221 22.3% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Holland, MI
$106
Kingston
$105 1.8% $1.9
Sport & Entertainment
Holland, MI
$52
Kingston
$88 71.2% $37
Getting Around
Holland, MI
$50
Kingston
$57 15.8% $7.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,332 in Holland, MI and $975 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Holland, MI pays 420% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Holland, MI vs $74.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $384 per month, with Holland, MI cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Holland, MI
🇯🇲 Kingston
🕒 Local time
00:20 12:20 AM
23:20 11:20 PM
1 h behind Holland, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,378
660,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

JMD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Holland, MI Kingston 2,900 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Holland, MI
  • Kingston

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Holland, MI vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingston cheaper than Holland, MI?
Kingston is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and clothing. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Holland, MI or Kingston?
Average pay runs 420% higher in Holland, MI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Holland, MI and Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,332 in Holland, MI versus $975 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Holland, MI and in Kingston?
Shoppers in Holland, MI pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Holland, MI or in Kingston?
Dining out is cheaper in Kingston – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $61.0 in Holland, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Holland, MI or in Kingston?
At $1,668 in Kingston versus $2,445 in Holland, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kingston but tight or insufficient in Holland, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Kingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Holland, MI or in Kingston?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Holland, MI or Kingston?
Safety-wise, Holland, MI and Kingston are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Holland, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Holland, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?